Once again the world is infused with a sense of horror and shock by the heinous attacks on innocent Parisians enjoying a Friday night in the City of Lights. And our collective response sensationalized by the media leads us where? The facts leading up to this attack should in no way be received as a surprise, for the endless stream of human barbarism and war has not receded in millennia. Our contemporary world order looks strikingly similar to many civilizations of the past.

What is an alternative response to terrorism? Merriam Webster defines terrorism as, “the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal.” The heart of terrorism is to get under your skin, churning a sense of dis-ease and fear.

Any response powered by fear demonstrates low frequency, low vibration and has an internal destructive nature that ripples across the collective unconscious. Let us find a better solution than more killing, more savagery and attending to the lowest human frequency.

Much has been said about the attacks on Paris over the weekend.
Who is responsible? Are more attacks around the corner? Are those attacks likely in places beyond Paris? How does Syria tie into this? Should we be mad or sad or scared?
Conversations include so much conjecture, much sympathy and some ugliness but without a doubt, the world is in shock at yet another senseless act of violence claiming so many innocent people.

In the wake of all those voices, one we have appreciated hearing was that of a father teaching his son why he didn’t have to be afraid at the site of Bataclan attacks:

French father and son have the most precious conversation in i…A father and son have the most precious conversation during an interview by french media at the scene of the Bataclan attacks. I saw that it hadn’t been subtitled in english yet, so I made a quick edit to show the rest of the world how freakin awesome some of our citizens are. They’re my heros. I feel better too now! (Courtesy of Le Petit Journal) #paris #bataclan #parisattacks

If you happen to be in Paris, France tonight and are privy to the underground communications of the Dîner en Blanc, then you are in for a treat! Founded nearly 25 years ago by François Pasquier, this ongoing dinner party – the largest in the world – convenes yearly in public places undisclosed until just an hour before the event. Diners must be personally invited by organizers, friends of organizers, friends of friends of…you get the picture. But apart from that layer of exclusivity, the event is grassroots, diverse, and non-commercial. Though technically not legal as it often descends upon landmarks, including in past years the Eiffel Tower site, the Louvre Pyramid, the Trocadéro Esplanade, the Château de Versailles, and the Esplanade de Notre-Dame, officials tolerate the innocent revelry of this “dinner in white.”

The “en blanc” part refers to the all-white outfits, linens, and decorations diners come equipped with, creating the aura of a chic, classy restaurant as opposed to the makeshift, outdoor picnic it truly is. Picnic or no, the event is all class. As outlined on their website, guests are responsible for bringing:

A table, two (white) chairs, a picnic basket comprised of quality menu items and china dinner service. They must wear white and be dressed elegantly. Originality is encouraged as long as it stays stylish and denotes taste.

It might sound a bit stuffy, but as the organizers urge, the guidelines are in place mainly to create a container for a magical, festive (and photogenic!) event. And the rules haven’t kept other communities from initiating their own local versions of the Dîner en Blanc, now in eighteen countries around the world!

Dîner en Blanc, a new documentary, captures the whimsical nature of this non-traditional dinner party, and the trailer alone is bound to whet your interest:

Looks like fun, eh? Good luck finding a way in to this exclusive party – but if you have a contact for any of the cities, can we be your plus one? 🙂

Dating is a remarkable experience in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Because of time constraints and financial constraints many individuals opt to search for a rencontre sur Internet. This meeting allows individuals the opportunity to sort through profiles and select the profile that seems most interesting. The individual may confirm their suspicions by requesting a chat online to get to know the person better. Once the two individuals get to know one another better, they will arrange a meeting in person. The meeting in person will allow an attraction to develop beyond the initial rencontre sur Internet.

Before a relationship is developed, individuals may want to have quick coffee dates in Paris to get to know one another better. Coffee dates are a casual way to get to know someone without commitment to a huge expense. Daters do not have to consume coffee while on a date. Coffee shops often offer a variety of beverages including tea and pastries. Coffee shops are simply quaint places to meet without requiring a huge commitment to a date. While caffeine and coffee are not ideal for females in the child bearing years, tea is an option for health conscious individuals. Coffee shops are recommended because the atmosphere is conducive to having a conversation and truly getting to know one another. Additionally, coffee shops are convenient to most individuals.

During the coffee date, ask questions to determine the person’s personality. Is the person lively or more subdued? Is the person an intellectual or a party person? If you are impressed with the individual as a date, you can determine the next venue for a date. Perhaps the second date may be slightly more personal than a coffee shop. The coffee shop, however, is a great first date meeting location.

Recommendations for Paris:

Le Chococafe

This café is small and quaint. Patrons of the tea room will find chocolates and other items for sale. This particular café is located at 80 Boulevard Beaumarchais.

Le Café Francais

This café serves sweet pastries, as well as, coffee. Le Café Francais will make a wonderful place for a date. The café is located at 3 Place de la Bastille.

Starbucks is an international coffee chain that offers coffee, tea, pastries and sandwiches. This shop also possesses an internet connection to allow individuals to rencontre sur Internet or in person. There are several locations in the Paris area. Many individuals often mingle in the area and strike up conversations as the mood strikes.

Sugarplum Cake Shop

For dates with a sweet tooth, Sugarplum Cake Shop will allow individuals to receive an American-style wedding cake, along with their coffee or tea beverage. The atmosphere is conducive to having a conversation and meeting.

Café Jacquemart-Andre

Café Jacquemart-Andre is a wonderful café that not only serves tea and coffee, but is also a beautiful museum. Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is a wonderful French artist that is known for his Venetian artwork and prints. Coffee daters may partake in coffee, tea or brunch while admiring the beautiful works of art by this esteemed artist. This is a wonderful place for daters who need a nudge to begin conversation. Tiepolo artwork is a great conversation piece and an ideal place for a first date. The tea room is located at 158 Boulevard Haussmann.

A Priori

The tea room offers coffee daters a wide variety of teas and snacks. On the weekends, daters may have brunch with their prospective new friend. The café is located at 35 Galerie Vivienne.

Café Egyptien

The tea room specializes in oriental teas. There are a wide variety of teas in an Egyptian ambiance. This tea room may be found at 112 Rue Mouffetard. This place is ethnic and will provide a different approach to a first date in Paris.

Café Marly

This particular café is a great place for art lovers to meet for a quick coffee date while spending the day at the Louvre. Café Marly is located in the Riechlieu wing. The café features a terrace with a view of the Louvre pyramid. Cocktails, snacks, coffee and tea are offered. The Louvre is located at 93 Rue Rivoli.

Cakes de Bertrand

Cinnamon cakes, apple crumbles and lunch dishes are offered at this quaint tearoom in Paris. The teas are authentic and the dishes are multi-cultural. Guests of Cakes de Bertrand may find chicken green curry lasagna and egg-plant parmigiano crumbles at 7 rue Bourdaloue Notre Dame de Lorette. This is a wonderful location for a first date. Daters may begin with coffee and progress to lunch if the date is going well.

Dating is a remarkable experience in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Because of time constraints and financial constraints many individuals opt to search for a rencontre sur Internet. This meeting allows individuals the opportunity to sort through profiles and select the profile that seems most interesting. The individual may confirm their suspicions by requesting a chat online to get to know the person better. Once the two individuals get to know one another better, they will arrange a meeting in person. The meeting in person will allow an attraction to develop beyond the initial rencontre sur Internet.

Before a relationship is developed, individuals may want to have quick coffee dates in Paris to get to know one another better. Coffee dates are a casual way to get to know someone without commitment to a huge expense. Daters do not have to consume coffee while on a date. Coffee shops often offer a variety of beverages including tea and pastries. Coffee shops are simply quaint places to meet without requiring a huge commitment to a date. While caffeine and coffee are not ideal for females in the child bearing years, tea is an option for health conscious individuals. Coffee shops are recommended because the atmosphere is conducive to having a conversation and truly getting to know one another. Additionally, coffee shops are convenient to most individuals.

During the coffee date, ask questions to determine the person’s personality. Is the person lively or more subdued? Is the person an intellectual or a party person? If you are impressed with the individual as a date, you can determine the next venue for a date. Perhaps the second date may be slightly more personal than a coffee shop. The coffee shop, however, is a great first date meeting location.

Recommendations for Paris:

Le Chococafe

This café is small and quaint. Patrons of the tea room will find chocolates and other items for sale. This particular café is located at 80 Boulevard Beaumarchais.

Le Café Francais

This café serves sweet pastries, as well as, coffee. Le Café Francais will make a wonderful place for a date. The café is located at 3 Place de la Bastille.

Starbucks is an international coffee chain that offers coffee, tea, pastries and sandwiches. This shop also possesses an internet connection to allow individuals to rencontre sur Internet or in person. There are several locations in the Paris area. Many individuals often mingle in the area and strike up conversations as the mood strikes.

Sugarplum Cake Shop

For dates with a sweet tooth, Sugarplum Cake Shop will allow individuals to receive an American-style wedding cake, along with their coffee or tea beverage. The atmosphere is conducive to having a conversation and meeting.

Café Jacquemart-Andre

Café Jacquemart-Andre is a wonderful café that not only serves tea and coffee, but is also a beautiful museum. Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is a wonderful French artist that is known for his Venetian artwork and prints. Coffee daters may partake in coffee, tea or brunch while admiring the beautiful works of art by this esteemed artist. This is a wonderful place for daters who need a nudge to begin conversation. Tiepolo artwork is a great conversation piece and an ideal place for a first date. The tea room is located at 158 Boulevard Haussmann.

A Priori

The tea room offers coffee daters a wide variety of teas and snacks. On the weekends, daters may have brunch with their prospective new friend. The café is located at 35 Galerie Vivienne.

Café Egyptien

The tea room specializes in oriental teas. There are a wide variety of teas in an Egyptian ambiance. This tea room may be found at 112 Rue Mouffetard. This place is ethnic and will provide a different approach to a first date in Paris.

Café Marly

This particular café is a great place for art lovers to meet for a quick coffee date while spending the day at the Louvre. Café Marly is located in the Riechlieu wing. The café features a terrace with a view of the Louvre pyramid. Cocktails, snacks, coffee and tea are offered. The Louvre is located at 93 Rue Rivoli.

Cakes de Bertrand

Cinnamon cakes, apple crumbles and lunch dishes are offered at this quaint tearoom in Paris. The teas are authentic and the dishes are multi-cultural. Guests of Cakes de Bertrand may find chicken green curry lasagna and egg-plant parmigiano crumbles at 7 rue Bourdaloue Notre Dame de Lorette. This is a wonderful location for a first date. Daters may begin with coffee and progress to lunch if the date is going well.

Dating is a remarkable experience in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Because of time constraints and financial constraints many individuals opt to search for a rencontre sur Internet. This meeting allows individuals the opportunity to sort through profiles and select the profile that seems most interesting. The individual may confirm their suspicions by requesting a chat online to get to know the person better. Once the two individuals get to know one another better, they will arrange a meeting in person. The meeting in person will allow an attraction to develop beyond the initial rencontre sur Internet.

Before a relationship is developed, individuals may want to have quick coffee dates in Paris to get to know one another better. Coffee dates are a casual way to get to know someone without commitment to a huge expense. Daters do not have to consume coffee while on a date. Coffee shops often offer a variety of beverages including tea and pastries. Coffee shops are simply quaint places to meet without requiring a huge commitment to a date. While caffeine and coffee are not ideal for females in the child bearing years, tea is an option for health conscious individuals. Coffee shops are recommended because the atmosphere is conducive to having a conversation and truly getting to know one another. Additionally, coffee shops are convenient to most individuals.

During the coffee date, ask questions to determine the person’s personality. Is the person lively or more subdued? Is the person an intellectual or a party person? If you are impressed with the individual as a date, you can determine the next venue for a date. Perhaps the second date may be slightly more personal than a coffee shop. The coffee shop, however, is a great first date meeting location.

Recommendations for Paris:

Le Chococafe

This café is small and quaint. Patrons of the tea room will find chocolates and other items for sale. This particular café is located at 80 Boulevard Beaumarchais.

Le Café Francais

This café serves sweet pastries, as well as, coffee. Le Café Francais will make a wonderful place for a date. The café is located at 3 Place de la Bastille.

Starbucks is an international coffee chain that offers coffee, tea, pastries and sandwiches. This shop also possesses an internet connection to allow individuals to rencontre sur Internet or in person. There are several locations in the Paris area. Many individuals often mingle in the area and strike up conversations as the mood strikes.

Sugarplum Cake Shop

For dates with a sweet tooth, Sugarplum Cake Shop will allow individuals to receive an American-style wedding cake, along with their coffee or tea beverage. The atmosphere is conducive to having a conversation and meeting.

Café Jacquemart-Andre

Café Jacquemart-Andre is a wonderful café that not only serves tea and coffee, but is also a beautiful museum. Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is a wonderful French artist that is known for his Venetian artwork and prints. Coffee daters may partake in coffee, tea or brunch while admiring the beautiful works of art by this esteemed artist. This is a wonderful place for daters who need a nudge to begin conversation. Tiepolo artwork is a great conversation piece and an ideal place for a first date. The tea room is located at 158 Boulevard Haussmann.

A Priori

The tea room offers coffee daters a wide variety of teas and snacks. On the weekends, daters may have brunch with their prospective new friend. The café is located at 35 Galerie Vivienne.

Café Egyptien

The tea room specializes in oriental teas. There are a wide variety of teas in an Egyptian ambiance. This tea room may be found at 112 Rue Mouffetard. This place is ethnic and will provide a different approach to a first date in Paris.

Café Marly

This particular café is a great place for art lovers to meet for a quick coffee date while spending the day at the Louvre. Café Marly is located in the Riechlieu wing. The café features a terrace with a view of the Louvre pyramid. Cocktails, snacks, coffee and tea are offered. The Louvre is located at 93 Rue Rivoli.

Cakes de Bertrand

Cinnamon cakes, apple crumbles and lunch dishes are offered at this quaint tearoom in Paris. The teas are authentic and the dishes are multi-cultural. Guests of Cakes de Bertrand may find chicken green curry lasagna and egg-plant parmigiano crumbles at 7 rue Bourdaloue Notre Dame de Lorette. This is a wonderful location for a first date. Daters may begin with coffee and progress to lunch if the date is going well.

Dating is a remarkable experience in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Because of time constraints and financial constraints many individuals opt to search for a rencontre sur Internet. This meeting allows individuals the opportunity to sort through profiles and select the profile that seems most interesting. The individual may confirm their suspicions by requesting a chat online to get to know the person better. Once the two individuals get to know one another better, they will arrange a meeting in person. The meeting in person will allow an attraction to develop beyond the initial rencontre sur Internet.

Before a relationship is developed, individuals may want to have quick coffee dates in Paris to get to know one another better. Coffee dates are a casual way to get to know someone without commitment to a huge expense. Daters do not have to consume coffee while on a date. Coffee shops often offer a variety of beverages including tea and pastries. Coffee shops are simply quaint places to meet without requiring a huge commitment to a date. While caffeine and coffee are not ideal for females in the child bearing years, tea is an option for health conscious individuals. Coffee shops are recommended because the atmosphere is conducive to having a conversation and truly getting to know one another. Additionally, coffee shops are convenient to most individuals.

During the coffee date, ask questions to determine the person’s personality. Is the person lively or more subdued? Is the person an intellectual or a party person? If you are impressed with the individual as a date, you can determine the next venue for a date. Perhaps the second date may be slightly more personal than a coffee shop. The coffee shop, however, is a great first date meeting location.

Recommendations for Paris:

Le Chococafe

This café is small and quaint. Patrons of the tea room will find chocolates and other items for sale. This particular café is located at 80 Boulevard Beaumarchais.

Le Café Francais

This café serves sweet pastries, as well as, coffee. Le Café Francais will make a wonderful place for a date. The café is located at 3 Place de la Bastille.

Starbucks is an international coffee chain that offers coffee, tea, pastries and sandwiches. This shop also possesses an internet connection to allow individuals to rencontre sur Internet or in person. There are several locations in the Paris area. Many individuals often mingle in the area and strike up conversations as the mood strikes.

Sugarplum Cake Shop

For dates with a sweet tooth, Sugarplum Cake Shop will allow individuals to receive an American-style wedding cake, along with their coffee or tea beverage. The atmosphere is conducive to having a conversation and meeting.

Café Jacquemart-Andre

Café Jacquemart-Andre is a wonderful café that not only serves tea and coffee, but is also a beautiful museum. Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is a wonderful French artist that is known for his Venetian artwork and prints. Coffee daters may partake in coffee, tea or brunch while admiring the beautiful works of art by this esteemed artist. This is a wonderful place for daters who need a nudge to begin conversation. Tiepolo artwork is a great conversation piece and an ideal place for a first date. The tea room is located at 158 Boulevard Haussmann.

A Priori

The tea room offers coffee daters a wide variety of teas and snacks. On the weekends, daters may have brunch with their prospective new friend. The café is located at 35 Galerie Vivienne.

Café Egyptien

The tea room specializes in oriental teas. There are a wide variety of teas in an Egyptian ambiance. This tea room may be found at 112 Rue Mouffetard. This place is ethnic and will provide a different approach to a first date in Paris.

Café Marly

This particular café is a great place for art lovers to meet for a quick coffee date while spending the day at the Louvre. Café Marly is located in the Riechlieu wing. The café features a terrace with a view of the Louvre pyramid. Cocktails, snacks, coffee and tea are offered. The Louvre is located at 93 Rue Rivoli.

Cakes de Bertrand

Cinnamon cakes, apple crumbles and lunch dishes are offered at this quaint tearoom in Paris. The teas are authentic and the dishes are multi-cultural. Guests of Cakes de Bertrand may find chicken green curry lasagna and egg-plant parmigiano crumbles at 7 rue Bourdaloue Notre Dame de Lorette. This is a wonderful location for a first date. Daters may begin with coffee and progress to lunch if the date is going well.

The language of love is said to have originated in Paris, France, though no one truly knows for sure. Couples have discovered, however, that Paris is the perfect location for spending time with that special someone. Those individuals deciding to rencontre in Paris are guaranteed to enjoy their surroundings. The only question that will need to be answered is if they liked the person they were with. If you should decide to date in Paris, consider these ten important rencontre rules so you can fully enjoy your time.

1. Avoid getting physical – Despite the romantic setting, mood, and magic that might accompany the both of you, save the goose bumps and tingles of physical passion for a magical moment in the future. Too much touching, kissing, and caressing on the first date can cause confusion and conflicted feelings.

2. Leave distractions at home – In this world of technology and multi-tasking, you can be your own worst enemy. Though you are capable of texting Susie, talking to Stanley, and updating your facebook status simultaneously, resist the urge to do so on your date! Give your full attention to the one person you are with, the sights of Paris, and the activity you are enjoying. After all, a major reason for rencontre is getting to know your date better. No distractions!

3. Don’t be too transparent – Dating allows for conversations to go beyond news, weather, and sports. One of the most important rules of dating, however, is to avoid getting overly transparent too quickly. The first date is not the time to share about your alcoholic father, poor credit rating, or your entire list of phobias. When an individual opens up too quickly, it can indicate a person’s inability to know healthy personal boundaries, and make the rest of your time together feel awkward.

4. Don’t mention ex-boyfriends or girlfriends – You would be surprised at the number of people that violate this top ten rule of dating. Talking about your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend while boating down the lovely Seine River will put a wet blanket on any hope for a second date. Make certain you keep in the present moment and enjoy the company of the one you are with. Leave your past relationships at home.

5. Be yourself – If you have to pretend or stretch your authenticity in order to impress your date or get them to like you, go directly to the 56th floor of the Eiffel tower, take a deep breath, and clear your senses! Be yourself and if the chemistry for a second date is not present, you have both saved yourself some time.

6. Do not seem desperate – Respect yourself enough to maintain your standards, values, and convictions. If you appear overeager or needy, you make it harder for your date to respect you. When a person is trying too hard to impress, it makes it awkward for everyone involved.

7. Don’t make a scene – For this dating rule, it does not matter whether you are in Paris, France or Perris, California. If you or your date cause an awkward scene while on your rencontre, there is an excellent chance there will not be a second date. Horselaughs, obnoxious words, argumentative behavior, or poor etiquette may capture the attention of those witnesses around you, but you will never capture someone’s heart. The first date usually puts individuals on their best behavior. If this is their best, then it might be frightening what they might do once they began to feel comfortable.

8. Enjoy the moment – Make certain that when you go on your date, you are focused and prepared to enjoy the moment with the one you are with. Whether you are touring the beautiful gardens of Jardins des Tuileries, or enjoying the nightlife of the Moulin Rouge, make it a point to be there in the moment. Clear the day’s activities from your mind, and do not allow tomorrow’s worries to creep in early. Invest yourself in the time you spend with your date tonight. You never know when you might be going out with ‘the one’. Do not be too distracted to miss your magic moment.

9. Have an alternative plan for your date – It is always good to have a back up plan. Perhaps you planned on taking your date up to the 56th level of the Eiffel Tower, but on your way there you find out they are deathly afraid of high places. Rather than awkward silence or a failed date, you have planned to take in the beautiful Notre Dame cathedral, instead. Having a ‘plan B’ is always very impressive and makes a great impression on your partner.

10. Don’t plan dates that are strictly romantic in nature – If you want your rencontre to be an opportunity to know your date better, avoid the one dimensional ‘dinner and a movie’ type of date. Why not head off to ‘The Basilica’ for a wonderful tour of this beautiful church, and then stick around for the evening street vendors, minstrels, and artists that fill the area in the evening. A tour of the Montmartre’s Basilica will enrich you culturally and as the evening takes over, both of you should have a lot of fun in the festive atmosphere that takes over in the evening.

Setting up your French dating profile is easy. Take some time to let people know who you are.

1. Write a brief but detailed description of what your likes and interests are, and who you’d like to meet. General information is enough. You want to save something for your site de rencontre.

2. Upload a recent photo, or several photos, of yourself. One is usually enough, but uploading a few can give people a better idea of what you’ll look like in real life, and it allows you to show off different looks, different sides of your fashion sense, and different sides of your personality.

3. When filling in the columns that ask for the specifics of your hobbies and interests, such as favorite books, favorite movies, and so forth, list as many of these as you can to give an idea of where your interests lie and how well-rounded you are. The more people know, and the more you can describe, the easier it will be for potential matches to find out what things you both have in common.

4. Your site de rencontre will be made that much better and more exciting if you have all your essays filled out which describe your favorite activities, what you’re looking for the most in a relationship or future mate, what you are most passionate about, and other such essays which will allow you to elaborate, in your own words, on some of the information already contained within your profile.

5. Be completely honest when answering questions and filling out descriptions in your own words. If you don’t tell the truth, it will come out later on in the relationship. If you smoke or drink, don’t attempt to hide these details. It is far better to be matched with someone who understands and relates to your habits than to have them find out later and lose their trust or be disappointed.

6. Describe your perfect first date, and your favorite places to go for a date in France. Name specific places, such as restaurants and landmarks. This will shed light on the type of person you are, making your site de rencontre more fun. People from other countries may or may not be familiar with these places, and they will have a chance to do their research ahead of time, which will allow them to become more familiarized with these places, and surprise you with a magnificent first date.

7. Your profile should include something unique, so use your own words whenever possible, instead of just borrowing from what others are doing and saying on the site. Your site de rencontre should be magical, and the person you are matched with should be intrigued by your profile, so that they want to know you better and learn more about you. Your first date will probably involve expounding on and answering some of the questions caused by viewing your profile, and talking about your hobbies and interests in greater detail.

8. Update your profile from time to time. As your looks change, upload some new pictures, and if your interests, likes, and dislikes evolve, update this information accordingly. People will want to get to know you as you are now, not how you were five months ago or two years ago. This is pretty important, because when you take your relationship offline, your date is likely to have some idea in mind about the type of person you are, and you don’t want to confuse them with outdated information.

9. Your site de rencontre should be both exciting and special, so strive to put a few first date ideas on your profile that are doable, realistic, and not too expensive. The goal of your first date is to get to know the other person better, and dates which are too elaborate or which distract you from the other person will not help you to converse well on the first date.

10. Be friendly and personable in your description. Try not to use too many big words or try to sound too fancy, because people are looking for information about you that they can understand, and you don’t want to come across as arrogant or unapproachable. You want to come across as someone who is down to earth. Be as positive and upbeat as possible, and if you know how to make people believe the things that you say, you will have a better chance at getting that site de rencontre, and you and the other person will be able to enjoy that first date. If you need any help setting up your profile or using the various features on the site, contact the customer service email address. They will be able to answer any of your questions or fix any bugs that you may come across on the site.

Tourists arriving in Paris will instantly fall in love with the romantic atmosphere of this beautiful European city. Known as the “Capital of Love”, Paris is an excellent place for visitors to find local singles seeking relationships. Parisian singles may be met during travel or on the internet. A date, or “rencontre” in Paris is a good chance for couples to spend time learning about one another. The first rencontre is the most important; if a first date goes well, there will likely be succeeding dates as well. To avoid a potentially disastrous ending, there are several things visiting men and women should avoid when taking a Parisian local on a first rencontre:

1. Speaking Only In English
Often in their clouded excitement of a romantic first rencontre in the Capital of Love, English-speaking visitors will forget to practice the French language, relying only on communication in their native language. It is important to keep in mind that while a Parisian dating partner may be wearing a smile and seems enthusiastic, speaking in a foreign language for a long period of time is exhausting to them. Also Parisians may perceive the lack of interest in speaking French to be a lack of interest in them directly. Alternating between English and French will provide a balance to the conversation and show a visitor’s interest in their Parisian date.

2. Using “Me” Or “I” Excessively
The French culture is extremely gracious and sophisticated. Parisians are very interested in their visiting date’s life and preferences, but they also would like to share information about themselves. Even if a visitor is overly excited, a self-focus will quickly bore a Parisian date and portray a message of rudeness. Visitors should talk about themselves during their first rencontre, but keeping 75% of the conversation centered around the Parisian date is a good practice.

3. Talking About Sensitive Subjects
French views on politics differ greatly from those expressed by many far Western cultures. Avoiding expression of opinions about politics and religion is a good idea for a first rencontre. Certainly if a Parisian date and their visitor wish to pursue a relationship these subjects will come up, but sparking them on a first date will send a negative message and possibly spoil the date. Also jokes about family members and politicians should be avoided; jokes generally do not translate as well and therefore may not even be humorous to a Parisian date. Compliments are always a better choice.

4. Asking Personal Questions
The idea of a first rencontre in Paris is simply to learn more about one another. Asking about a man or woman’s past relationships, childhood and family relationships should be avoided. Learning things such as a date’s favorite animal, color, food, drink and asking about fun and special memories are better questions to ask to ensure an awkward conversational situation will not be experienced.

5. Romantic Advances
Kissing a Parisian date during the first rencontre should only take place on the date’s cheek or hand. When a person kisses their Parisian date on the lips, this is a signal of interest in a serious commitment or intent of marriage. Also a kiss on the lips is an invitation for sex. Once a kiss has taken place, sex is acceptable and expected. Parisians will likely be disgusted at an attempt for a first date kiss on the lips, so visitors should show respect. Naturally sexual advances are out of the question for first dates also.
6. Showing Up Empty-Handed
When meeting a man or woman for a first date in Paris, it is customary to bring a small gift. The gift need not be extravagant; a box of chocolates or flowers are always sufficient. Meeting for a first date with no gift is often detected as rude, thoughtless and disrespectful, especially from the perspective of a Parisian woman meeting a foreign man.

7. Talking On The Phone Or Texting
Americans are especially famous for spending excessive amounts of time surfing the web, replying to emails, talking and texting on their mobile phones. This should always be avoided during a first date in Paris. Both Parisian men and women will happily turn off their mobile device during the date in order to focus their attention completely on learning more about and conversing with their foreign dating partner. Those who rely on their device as their lifeblood should notify clients or any important contacts that they will be unavailable for this time and should avoid using the device completely during their first date.

The most important thing to keep in mind about a first date in Paris is to attempt to keep the mood casual but friendly. Focusing simply on learning more about a Parisian dating partner while showing respect, courtesy and etiquette is the key to success.